Never Forget: A Novella in the Echo Platoon Series by Marliss Melton Read Free Book Online Page B

that a lot of the men she worked with didn’t like her. Men had issues with women who were as tough as they were. He probably shouldn’t mention Santana’s uncle—or his dog—to his mom.
    *
    R USTY FORCED HIMSELF to let his cellphone ring three times before he cleared his throat and answered it. “Kuzinsky,” he said out of habit.
    “Hi, it’s Maya.”
    Her voice sounded huskier on the phone. He pictured her lying back on her bed, the shoes kicked off her tiny feet, her purple-framed spectacles on a nearby nightstand next to a glass of red wine. The PG-rated vision aroused him instantly. How pathetic was that?
    “Well, you don’t sound like you’re mad at me, so that’s good,” he began.
    “Why would I be mad at you?” Her tone dismissed the mere idea.
    “For putting your son in harm’s way?” he suggested.
    She hummed her acknowledgment. “He did say that the dog is crazy.”
    “Yeah, well…” He couldn’t deny it. “War does that to everyone.”
    Her sudden silence made him want to retract the depressing statement.
    “I know it does,” she said, with enough compassion to reassure him. “But I trust you to know the difference between crazy and dangerous. You watched over Curtis today. Just promise me you’ll remain that vigilant until the dog settles down.”
    His hopes rose. “Does that mean he’s coming back tomorrow?”
    “Yes. Absolutely.”
    He closed his eyes briefly. “Good. It was touch and go today,” he admitted. “Draco could sense Curtis’s fear. Your son needs to establish himself as the alpha, which could take time and can’t really be taught.”
    “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I know you have better things to do than babysit my son.”
    “It’s not a problem.” Except that it sort of was a problem. His SEALs were showing up tomorrow evening.
    “There are so many pitfalls awaiting teens these days. I see corrupting influences everywhere, and there’s only so much I can do to protect him when I work every day. So, thank you. I’m really grateful for this distraction.”
    “Don’t thank me yet,” he begged. “We’ve got a long way to go.”
    “I will understand if it becomes too much,” she said.
    An unmistakable warmth emanated from the vicinity of his heart. Hearing Maya’s gratitude, he didn’t care how hard it got. “We’ll play it by ear,” he promised.
    “Is there … anything that I can do to return the favor?”
    The ideas that popped into his head weren’t suitable to mention. In fact, they tied his tongue in knots, keeping him from saying anything.
    “What about your list?” she suggested.
    “My list?”
    “You know. The shopping list you had at Home Depot. Did you find everything on it?”
    “Uh, not yet.” But he wasn’t about to ask her to go shopping for him.
    “What do you still need?”
    The opportunity dropped so suddenly into his lap, he couldn’t afford to let it pass. “A date,” he suggested.
    “A date?”
    Her startled tone had him backpedaling.
    “Well, I’m taking Friday night to myself to get away from the house and all the guys who’ll be here. I thought I’d make a small bonfire on the beach, but if you’d rather not…” Maybe she wasn’t interested. Maybe he’d completely misread her.
    “No, that sounds nice,” she said with slightly more enthusiasm, yet still a hint of reservation. “It’s just … I haven’t been on a date in over a decade.”
    Suddenly, there was Ian Schultz’s ghost standing right in front him, just looking at him.
    Rusty gripped his phone harder. “Look, if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll be okay by myself.”
    “No, I’d like to join you,” she stated haltingly.
    “You sure?” he asked. She didn’t sound sure.
    “Yeah, I think so.”
    Maybe she just needed time to adjust to the idea.
    “In the meantime,” she added skirting the subject suddenly, “let’s see how Curtis does on his second day.”
    Ah, so a date with him depended on what happened between the